SO, YOU WANT TO BE A DEACON

TEXT- 1 TIMOTHY 3:8-12

INTRODUCTION

This morning I am going to continue with my series of messages from the book of First Timothy on the topic of being a servant.

Last Sunday we learned that the word deacon in a general sense refers to any servant and in a specific way refers to those who hold the office of deacon.

We also learned that the office of deacon did not always exist within the Lord's church and grew out of a need that arose in the church.

Last Sunday I ended my message with Acts 6:7 showing that when qualified pastors and deacons are both serving god in the capacity God has called them the result is going to be a growing, godly, vibrant church.

But, one of the fastest ways to ruin a church is to put people in leadership positions who don't belong there because they are either not qualified or are not doing their job.

There was a young preacher who had a growing country church. He was always encouraging his people to do greater things for God. However, there was a deacon in his congregation who did little and seemed to care less which caused the pastor much concern. On several occasions he told the deacon exactly what he thought. But the deacon never caught the point because he always thought the preacher was referring to someone else. One Sunday in the message the preacher made it plainer as to whom he was talking. Following the service the deacon said, Preacher, you sure told them today. The next sermon was still more pointed than ever. But again the deacon said, Preacher, you sure told them today. The next Sunday it snowed so hard that no one was at the church except this one deacon. The preacher thought that the deacon would now know that he was talking about him. The sermon was directed right at the deacon who was the only one in the congregation. Following the service, the deacon walked up to the pastor and said, Preacher, you sure told them if they had been here.

Isn't is amazing how we have the tendency to think that God's word is not speaking to us but to someone else.

Paul though was very specific when he told Timothy in verse 8 that he was speaking about deacons not as servants in a general sense, but as individuals who fill the office of deacon.

This morning our text is found in 1 Timothy 3:8-12 and I would like us to consider four qualifications of a deacon.